Our 10th Year Anniversary
Hello Everyone,
Well another year has come and gone and we have reached our 10-year mark. It was Christmas of 1999 when we made our first deliveries of food and gifts to 8 women in treatment and March of 2000 when we applied for our non-profit status. Since that time we have grown from 6 Angels to over 500 Angels.
In ten years time we have financially assisted over 1500 women and 2 men. Hundreds of children have been fed, clothed and sheltered with your dollars. We have helped provide stability in a chaotic time.
Over the past ten years we have been part of the lives of 134 women who have lost their battles. In some cases we were there when they died. We have seen awesome miracles along with the loss. We are assisting several women who have continued to battle for 5, 6, 7 years and are still here raising their children. They continue to send thank you cards to us for not abandoning them in their time of need. We are their hope and they are our reward.
This past year was tough financially. Some months we just did not know how we could continue without turning women away. Each month my faith was renewed and the “miracle of the loaves & fishes” came to pass again and again. We were able to pay out over $270,000 in total client needs. We had a terrific Back to School Picnic and an awesome Client Christmas Party! Our families got to come together, share their stories and make new friends.
The “Angel House” has been home to 9 women. Most of these women come to us at the start of their battle, but at the end of their life. They are often diagnosed through emergency rooms and their breast cancer is already advanced to stage 4. We do what we can to make their lives more comfortable and to slow down the progress of the disease.
None of what happens in the office or the “Angel House” is possible without your help. You are all amazing! Some of you have been with us for 10 years, some a shorter length of time but you are all making a huge difference to our women in treatment and their families.
We are still a small organization doing big work. We exist on a shoestring budget and depend on volunteers.
I would like to give special thanks to Anthony & Holli Lienau and Trend Offset Printing for continuing to support our work. They have been a blessing for nine years. We are grateful to them for the fundraisers, the overhead donations, the Client Christmas Party, the Angel House, the beautiful office space and so much more.
Jim & Ann Steinmetz also deserve special mention. Year after year they get dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus and go out to raise money for us. In 2008 they raised over $20,000 and we thought with the economy 2009 would be half that, but surprise! They raised over $22,000. They are truly amazing.
This year we received dues and donations from our “Angels” of over $150,000. We received an $11,000 housing grant from the Downey Short Foundation and $10,000 from Diversified Thermal Services.
This year we had several groups and individuals hold fundraisers for us. The O.C. Roller Girls donated over $6,600. Minx Fashion Show made $4,000, Andi Bowman held a wonderful Christmas Boutique and donated $5,400 to us, Rob & Patty Goodin held a Classic Car Event and raised close to $3,000, Eddie & Lee Jorge held an After Turkey Tennis Tournament and raised over $3,400, New Attitude Beauty Salon held an open house fundraiser and raised close to $2,000 for us, the 5th graders at St. Anthony’s Elementary School in Long Beach held a bake sale and raised $300. The Girls on the Run, a group of girls from Wrightwood, made beautiful greeting cards as a fundraiser and donated $345.00. Some of our Angels gave donations in the name of friends or customers instead of giving gifts. As you can see, everyone was being creative and used their talents to make a huge difference in the lives of our families.
The Summer Event was fabulous last year and raised over $55,000. SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS YEAR, JULY 31ST, OCEAN INSTITUTE, DANA POINT!
The Christmas Lunch was the best ever; we made over $40,000 and had lots of new Angels sign up.
There will be a Taste of Long Beach, Craft Fair and Concert on May 1st at Grace Presbyterian Church, which will benefit Breast Cancer Angels. SAVE THE DATE!
We can all be Angels here on earth, we just need to reach out and offer our hearts!
Thank you,
Faye
Mailings Note:
We will be doing our mailed newsletters less often due to the cost of postage. Please let me know if you need additional return envelopes for your monthly dues. 2009 Tax letters went out last week. If you have any questions give us a call.
Angel Parties- Host Your Own!
An Angel Party is only limited by your imagination. Be creative! We depend on your events to continue to provide the services we do. From a simple idea to something elaborate. We need you! It can be something you are already doing. Just add the cause and go! We will provide the host (ess) with a banner, brochures, a basket full of bracelets and a special gift for the hostess. The rest is up to you! Check out some ideas:
Baby and Kids’ Resale, Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction, Bake Sale, Barbecue Contest, Board Game Tournament, Business Fundraisers, Car Wash, Chili Cook-off, Coffee House Poetry Slam, Cooking Class, Dog Wash, Doggie Parade, Drive-in Movie, Head Shaving, Ice Cream Social, Karaoke Night, Local Celebrity Auction, Local Series of Poker, Miniature Golf Marathon, Movie Marathon, Pancake Breakfast, Pawfect Art Show, Pizza Night, Golf Tournament, Spaghetti Dinner, Theater Night, Tractor Pull, Trivia Night, White Elephant Raffle, Winery or Brewpub Tour, Woman Fashion Show.
Call us today with your ideas and we can get you started!
Angel Here on Earth
Lori Frankin
Did you notice the wonderful shopping area at the Christmas Luncheon? Have you thought to yourself how amazing the raffle prizes are decorated? Perhaps you have wondered how all that happens? We have Lori Frankin to thank for sharing her amazing energy and talents with us. She works all year long to put together donations, vendors and much more for our Holiday Luncheon and Summer Event.
Lori was diagnosed with Stage II Breast Cancer in 2001. She had 6 cycles of chemotherapy followed by 5 weeks of radiation. She says the hardest part of it all was having her daughter Lauren who then was only 11 years old see her mom so sick.
Lori met Faye back in 2003 at a membership drive — and she heard Edie Mermelstein speak about how Breast Cancer Angels had helped her friend with rent, food & clothing. The fact that 100% of the proceeds go to women in treatment really got Lori’s attention. This month she celebrates 9 years in remission of her breast cancer!!! Thank you Lori for all you do for us!
Who We Help
S.I. is a young mom we have been assisting since August of 2009. She has three children under 6 and a Stage 4 diagnosis. Her husband lost his job before she was diagnosed and their house was fast approaching foreclosure. We were able to help keep them afloat with utility assistance, food cards, Target cards and gasoline cards.
Their eviction date was January 31st, 2010. She had just finished her first round of chemo treatments and was resting at home after her breast surgery when her husband died of a massive heart attack on January 10th.
We are now in the process of trying to help her find affordable housing for herself and the children. She has no other family that can help out. The neighbors have been great watching the children and picking things up at the store. Eviction has now been pushed back to the end of February but the prospects of finding housing look pretty grim. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Save The Date – Upcoming Events
February 2 Angel Party in memory of Jean Bulicz
May 1 Taste of Long Beach, Craft Fair & Concert at Grace Presbyterian
May 9 4th Annual Roll For A Cure hosted by the OC Roller Girls
July 31 Summer Event at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA
If you have additional dates to add please let us know.
Breast Cancer Angels in the News
We had a nice mention in 944 Magazine about Orange County Charities. Read the article here www.944.com/articles/occharities
Past Events
Claus for A Cause Holiday Fundraiser
Thank you to Jim & Ann Steinmetz for all their “Claus for a Cause” fundraisers! This season they raised over $22,000 for our clients by providing the most professional and heart warming presentation of Santa and Mrs. Claus. You two are really amazing!
An Evening with Santa- Fun and Fundraiser
Thank you Laura Baker for putting on a fun event on Sunday, December 6, 2009. This family-focused event had fun activities for children, Hot Cocoa and Snacks, Gift Bags and more and our own Mr. & Mrs. Claus from Clause for a Cause donated their time!
New Attitude Salon Holiday BeDazzled Open House Fundraiser
On Sunday, December 6, 2009 guests enjoyed holiday shopping with 11 unique vendors while enjoying great hospitality! Thank you to New Attitude Salon in Los Alamitos for organizing this wonderful fundraiser to raise close to $2,000 to benefit Breast Cancer Angels.
Holiday Donations & Inkind Gifts
Thank you to everyone for your continued generosity. We had many gifts, toys, clothes and other items dropped off for our Client Christmas Party and we really appreciate it!
(C) 2010 Breast Cancer Angels
